And still the skies are grey. Plums ripen but have no flavour. Some of the Italian climbing French beans, planted with such hopes in the spring, are only just now coming into flower, so there can be little chance of a decent crop by the end of September. However, planted next to the compost pile, marrow plants that produce a very nice pale green, ribbed, courgette are growing as if they plan to take over the village. Vast leaves, vast juicy stems, vast tendrils… They clamber wildly, though some of their relatives are well over the top of the privet hedge and threaten our neighbours. Lots of pickling ahead.

And of course, the colchicums. If like me, you love them, do have a look at ‘Coaxing Colchicums along’.

Colchicum speciosum – 7 seasons from seed.

The Kindle book ‘Old Fashioned Flowers’ is finding buyers. Amongst seventy odd other genera, there’s plenty more info on colchicums. No reviews so far. Can you help?

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About david stuart

garden writer and journalist, and occasionally a designer, with a garden in the Scottish borders, and his pal's gardens in Edinburgh, London, and Lincolnshire. They keep both of us very, very busy. Books I've written listed on my website, and dozens of articles and garden and plant pictures. Currently working on several new projects. One of these was to return to painting - see the blog - and which is proving exciting!
www.david-stuart.co.uk or, more fun, have a look at www.pinterest.com/davidcstuart